Autocar India
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JAYVIRSINH DEOL

•4d

I want to buy a new car, and my daily commute is around 60-70 km. I am considering the XUV 7XO, Thar Roxx, and Tata Safari. Which car should I buy?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•14m
With a 60-70 km daily run, comfort, ease in traffic and lower tiredness matter most, so pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO automatic. Its petrol and diesel engines are smooth and quiet, and the Mahindra also rides very comfortably over bad roads. A couple of watch-outs: the third row (if you choose the 7-seater) is best for kids, and the boot with all seats up is small. Also, some features vary by variant, so confirm the exact mix you want.
If you travel with six or seven people or do frequent highway trips with the family, the Tata Safari is the better alternative from your list. It's got more flexible seating, allowing you to better balance space across its three rows. 

As for the Thar Roxx, it has a tough image but is essentially too hardcore for your commute. It will not be as convenient to drive or as comfortable in general as the XUV 7XO or Safari.
Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹16.14 Lakh

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Mahindra

Thar Roxx

from ₹14.66 Lakh

Tata Safari

Tata

Safari

from ₹15.71 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

SS

Samir Shah

•3w

Dear Autocar team, I am confused between XUV 7XO AX7AT and Kia Carens Clavis HTX (O). My daily driving is approx 30km in Mumbai bumper-to-bumper traffic and three to four highway trips of approx 400 km each. This will be a chauffeur-driven car, so back-seat comfort is important. This car will be used once a week by my elderly mother for short trips, so ease of use from old age person is also critical. From a seating comfort point of view and after considering my overall requirement, I have shortlisted Kia Carens Clavin DCT HTX (O) as I need certain minimum features in my car. My concern is DCT behaviours and heating issues in heavy city traffic, and the long-term reliability of DCT transmission. I intend to keep this car for 10 years. Do advise me on the correct option between the two cars which I have shortlisted.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•22h

Your usage of 30km of daily Mumbai traffic, a chauffeur-driven setup, occasional 400km highway runs, and the need for easy access for your mother clearly leans towards comfort and ease rather than outright performance.In that context, the Kia Carens Clavis HTX (O) is the more suitable pick over the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 AT. The Carens’ lower floor and more MPV-like stance make ingress and egress far easier, especially for elderly passengers. The second row is also more accommodating and comfortable, and in tight urban conditions, it’s simply less cumbersome to place than the bulkier XUV.Your concern about the DCT is valid, particularly in Mumbai’s stop-and-go traffic. Traditionally, dual-clutch transmissions could heat up due to constant clutch slip at low speeds. However, newer Kia/Hyundai DCTs have improved cooling and software calibration, and are better engineered to handle “clutch creep”, essentially mimicking the gentle roll of a torque converter automatic in traffic without excessive wear.That said, the bigger trade-off isn’t outright reliability as much as smoothness. A DCT can still feel a bit jerky at very low speeds compared to a torque converter, which remains the benchmark for creep and seamless response in bumper-to-bumper conditions.Overall, given your priorities of rear-seat comfort, ease of use, and urban drivability, the Carens Clavis remains the better fit for your needs, even with the DCT consideration.

VehicleKia Carens
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
TT

Tata tiagio

•4d

Hi autocar, we are looking at 7 seaters, our budget is 24L, we are fine with Mt or automatic as long as it's a torque converter. Our usage is mostly on the highway, and we want effortless and efficient highway runs We also want to avoid Tata Motors due to their service. We want cruise control, Android Auto, multi-drive modes, parking camera. It should be FWD We don't want a sunroof

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•23h

The Kia Carens Diesel Automatic (1.5 AT) in HTK Plus trim is the best fit for your needs. It is front‑wheel drive, the diesel with the proper automatic feels relaxed at 90-110 kph, and overtaking won't stress the engine. It also uses less fuel on long runs than most petrols. You get cruise control, Android Auto, a parking camera, and drive modes, so your feature list is covered without paying for a sunroof.A thing to note. While the Carens Clavis' flexible seating makes the third row usable for adults, luggage space with all seats up is limited. However, that's an issue you'll face with most three-row vehicles.Alternatively, the Mahindra XUV 7XO in petrol-AT and diesel-AT are options. The 7XO isn't as comfortable for third row passengers, but performance is far superior to the Carens, in case that is higher on your list of priorities. The AX3 trim is within your budget and gives all the features you desire.

VehicleKia Carens
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
GA

Gaurav

•5d

My budget is around ₹20 lakh on-road, and I am specifically looking for a diesel SUV. My usage pattern would be roughly 80% highway driving, 15% city driving, and 5% mild off-road usage. My priorities are: Spacious cabin Good fuel efficiency Comfortable ride quality I can compromise slightly on outright performance if the car excels in comfort, practicality, and mileage. At the moment, I am confused between the Tata Sierra Diesel, Mahindra XUV 7XO Diesel, Renault Duster Diesel, and Kia Seltos Diesel.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•4d

The Mahindra XUV 7XO AX3 diesel-manual fits your brief best. It has the roomiest cabin of your list and is the only one with three-row seating. Of course, with the last row folded, its boot is generous for luggage. On the highway, it feels steady and calm, rides bumps well, and the diesel is refined and both, punchy and efficient. Ground clearance and its inherent toughness make it capable of tackling light trails and rough roads.

VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO

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Popular discussions right now

SU

Soumith Uppu

•5d

I am looking for a family car and am currently confused between the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT, Maruti Fronx Delta Plus AMT, and Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT. Could you please help me choose the best option?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•4d

It's really hard to suggest a car without knowing a bit more about your requirements, like rear space requirements and the distance driven per month. Thus, as a good all-rounder for a small family, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT fits your brief best. Pick this variant because it gives you the most rear-seat space and a bigger, more useful boot than the other two, so adults sit more comfortably, and you pack more for trips. It also feels light and easy to drive in traffic, and the ride is calm over rough roads, which helps passengers, especially elders or kids.Two things to note: this automatic can feel a bit slow to pick up when you press the accelerator hard, and you will miss a few fancy features that sit on higher trims. If you drive with a full load on steep hills often, you may want to try it once to see if the response suits you.If you value tough build and the best ride on broken roads above all else, the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT is the second choice. It also has a smaller footprint for tight parking and a feature-rich cabin at a price like the Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT, too. Overall, for family comfort and everyday ease, go with the Fronx Delta Plus AMT.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
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VehicleHyundai Exter
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AVINASH PARWANI

•5d

I have booked the Kia Seltos turbo DCT. My monthly running is around 900 km, mostly in Chennai traffic. Should I wait for the hybrid version? Is it expected soon? Also, how much price difference can be expected between the turbo-petrol and the hybrid?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•4d

The Kia Seltos hybrid, as well as the new-generation Hyundai Creta with the hybrid tech, are both expected to arrive next year. If you can wait until then, it would be better to do so, as the hybrid would be far more fuel-efficient. As for the price difference, it's hard to pinpoint right now, but expect to pay about Rs. 50,000 extra over a turbo-petrol automatic.Thus, if the wait time and the premium are not ok with you, stick with the Kia Seltos. However, given that you are mostly driving in traffic, remember that a turbo petrol would not be very efficient, and for heavy, slow traffic, the DCT can feel a bit hesitant at crawling speeds and can run warm in long jams. The Seltos with the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol with CVT is better suited to your use, as its smoother in the city, would be more fuel-efficient and would potentially be more reliable too.

VehicleKia Seltos
MW

Manik Walia

•1w

I want to buy a sedan. My usage will be approximately 25% city driving and 75% highway driving. My priorities are a fun-to-drive experience, good handling, strong highway stability, rear-seat comfort, and solid build quality. My budget is around ₹18-20 lakh.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

With 75% highway use and a Rs. 18-20 lakh cap, the Volkswagen Virtus with the 1.0 turbo petrol with the manual is the best fit. It feels quick when you press the throttle, so quick passes on the highway are easy, and it stays very steady at speed with a nice, weighty steering, which makes long drives calmer. The rear seat is wide with good legroom and a well-angled backrest, so two adults will be comfortable for hours. It also feels solid inside and out, and its crash test score is strong, which matches your build quality ask.A couple of things to note: at low speeds, the ride can feel a bit firm over sharp bumps, and Volkswagen’s service reach is smaller than Maruti or Hyundai in smaller towns, so check your nearest workshop.If you want the same driving feel but a slightly richer cabin vibe, look at the Skoda Slavia with the same 1.0 turbo. It shares the core strengths of highway stability and safety, and some find its seats a touch softer.For your brief, the Virtus 1.0 manual lines up best. However, do note that a facelift is expected later this year.

VehicleVolkswagen Virtus
VehicleSkoda Slavia

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Posted on: 18 May 2026